Jargon Buster
We are continually building on our environmental sector jargon buster to make our site content (including job profiles, information pages and blogs) more accessible. Please click the headings and arrows below to find a range of definitions and further resources — links, articles, videos and more.
Jargon Buster
A land management system where trees or shrubs are grown around or among crops or pastureland.
An expert in the science of soil management and crop production.
An accepted shortening of the phrase ‘biological diversity’ commonly used to describe the difference between species found in a certain area.
An approach to development, and/or land management, that aims to leave the natural environment in a measurably better state than it was before.
The scientific study of the physiology, structure, genetics, ecology, distribution, classification, and economic importance of plants.
Plants comprising the mosses, liverworts, and hornworts
The collection and analysis of data relating to the natural world by members of the general public, typically as part of a collaborative project with professional scientists.
A situation in which urgent action is required to reduce or halt climate change and avoid potentially irreversible environmental damage resulting from it.
The consenting process in offshore wind farm development is the process of assessing the impacts on people and the environment before a wind farm can be developed. Environmental roles exist in this area, crossing over with ecology.
Information can be found in this video introduction:
See this informational website (facesofwindenergy.com) for more information on environmental careers in offshore wind consenting.
Related Job Profiles
- David Pereira, Marine Wildlife Consultant (on GreenJobsforNature .org)
- Continue the playlist in the video above for more examples of job profiles in offshore wind consenting
Preservation and protection
The process of tracking and documenting the skills, knowledge and experience that you gain as you develop in your career
An ecological consultant undertakes research and surveys to provide advice on ecological matters such as, how plans to use a particular area of land may affect the plant and animal species and types of habitats present.
A law to make new provision for public access to the countryside outlining management, rights and responsibilities
A data logger is an electronic device that records data over time or about location either with a built-in instrument or sensor or via external instruments.
The branch of science dealing with the physical constitution of the earth and its atmosphere.
Describes measures which can be put in place to improve the ecological condition of a site on completion of a development project
A method for identifying ecological features likely to be affected by development and assessing the potential impacts to them, typically forms part of a wider EIA
Environmental DNA or eDNA is DNA that is collected from a variety of environmental samples such as soil, seawater, snow or air, rather than directly sampled from an individual organism
A method for identifying the environmental features likely to be affected by a development and assessing the potential impacts to them
Animal life
Land consisting of a low and marshy or frequently flooded area of land with alkaline, neutral, or only slightly acid peaty soil.
Plant life
The science or practice of planting, managing, and caring for forests.
The study of heredity and the variation of inherited characteristics.
Geodiversity refers to the topography, structure and natural form of the land.
A system that creates, manages, analyses, and maps all types of data. ‘QGIS’ is one example of a GIS system that is commonly used in ecology and conservation careers.
The study of the physical features of the surface of the earth and their relation to its geological structures.
A protected species, this means that the animals and their eggs, breeding sites and resting places are protected by law
Economic activities that deliver goods and services that are likely to help the UK generate lower emissions of greenhouse gases, predominantly carbon dioxide
The natural home or environment of an animal, plant, or other organism
A process that determines whether or not development plans could negatively impact local plans on a recognised protected European site
An area of high or mountainous land.
The art or practice of garden cultivation and management.
Hydroecological validation (HEV) uses ecological and hydrological data to help us assess the ecological response of a site to river flow.
Hydrogeomorphology has been defined as “an interdisciplinary science that focuses on the interaction and linkage of hydrologic processes with landforms or earth materials and the interaction of geomorphic processes with surface and subsurface water in temporal and spatial dimensions.”
A structured a process for considering the implications of development on people and the environment
An invasive species is an organism that typically causes ecological or economic harm in a new environment where it is not native.
See also ‘Japanese Knotweed’ as an example.
Japanese Knotweed is an invasive, non-native plant species that is very difficult to remove and can cause problems for owners of land and property.
Further reading: https://www.rhs.org.uk/weeds/japanese-knotweed
The process of managing the use and development of land resources in both urban and rural settings
The action of reducing the severity, or seriousness of potential negative impacts
Native species are species that have become part of an ecosystem through natural processes.
Displaying autistic spectrum disorder or other neurologically atypical patterns of thought or behaviour such as dyslexia, ADHD.
An organisation that operates independently of any government or private business
A standardised system for classifying and mapping habitats in all parts of Great Britain, including urban areas
A high level assessment of the ecological features present, or potentially present, within a site and its surrounding area
An assessment to determine the suitability of buildings and other features for roosting bats
A species of animal or plant which it is forbidden by law to harm or destroy, this may also include the habitat surrounding the protected species
In ecology, resilience is the capacity of an ecosystem to respond to a perturbation or disturbance by resisting damage and recovering quickly.
Returning a habitat back to its former condition or enhancing it to be better (see BNG)
Relating to, or living on the banks of watercourses.
Refers to ‘rewildling’ the marine habitat, to restore species such as native oysters and seagrass.
Read more: https://rewildingeurope.com/rew-project/seawilding/
A person with an interest or concern in something.
Fulfilling the needs of current generations without compromising the needs of future generations, while ensuring a balance between economic growth, environmental care and social well-being
Of or on dry land
The scientific study of the behaviour, structure, physiology, classification, and distribution of animals.